NBAA Submits Comments on LASP Today, but More Work Lies Ahead

Washington, DC, February 27, 2009 – National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen today submitted comments that clearly articulate the serious concerns raised by the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA’s) highly controversial Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP). NBAA’s comments were submitted to the federal government’s public docket on the final day for public comment on the LASP.

“As NBAA has noted since the LASP was introduced last October, this proposal completely misses the mark,” said Bolen. “The TSA needs to understand that in preparing the LASP, the agency has attempted to overlay a security regime for the big airlines onto tens of thousands of businesses all across the country. If left unchanged, the plan would overwhelm these small businesses in a time of economic crisis without providing a clear security benefit.”

NBAA’s comments added to those submitted by more than 4,000 businesses, associations and individuals, all of which raise a variety of criticisms about the TSA’s proposal. NBAA’s 30-page document details the myriad ways the proposal would harm the GA industry. The main concerns include:

The 12,500-lb.Weight Threshold: NBAA’s comments note that the TSA has chosen a weight threshold for its proposal without providing a data-driven, risk-based analysis. “A 12,500-pound airplane could fit nose to tail across the inside of an airliner, which averages about 300,000 pounds” Bolen said. “The TSA’s ‘Large Aircraft Security Program’ would apply to some very small aircraft.”
The Prohibited Items List: The proposal contains a list of more than 80 “prohibited items.” “Unfortunately, many of these items are routinely carried aboard business aircraft – everyday tools, for example – because they are central to NBAA Members’ business needs or are products produced by the company,” Bolen said. NBAA’s comments recommend that the TSA establish procedures to control access to “restricted item(s)” while on board the aircraft.
Third-Party Watch List Service Providers and Auditors: Security experts have long understood that outsourced security programs can produce more risks than benefits, and that the most effective approach to security is through a closed system. The TSA’s call for third-party security auditors overlooks such findings. “Private aircraft operate within a very secure system today, many involving sophisticated processes,” Bolen said. NBAA’s comments oppose use of third-party watch list service providers.
Federal Air Marshals: NBAA is deeply concerned with the TSA’s proposal to require some aircraft to carry a federal air marshal (FAM) on board. “These aircraft are privately owned and operated by businesses,” Bolen said. NBAA’s comments maintain that the TSA has no authority to mandate the transport of law enforcement officers in any private vehicle.
NBAA’s comments also renew the Association’s call, first made last January, for a rulemaking committee that would allow for a productive dialogue to take place between government and industry stakeholders on the development of reasonable security policies.

“The business aviation community has a long and demonstrated history of partnership with government in developing effective yet workable security measures for the industry,” Bolen said. “A rulemaking committee would provide a forum for stakeholder information sharing and the development of sensible and implementable measures.”

Bolen also thanked NBAA Members for making their voices heard on the LASP. “The business aviation community has truly done an outstanding job of getting our message to the TSA about our concerns with the agency’s plan,” Bolen said. “Through the comments submitted to the public docket, the messages sent through Contact Congress, the participation in the TSA hearings and other measures, our industry acted when called upon and sounded a forceful, nationwide alarm about our grave concerns about the proposal. There is still much work to be done, and we will continue to count on our Members’ support. But we appreciate their continuing dedication to this issue, and to sensible security policies.”

For more information on the LASP proposal and NBAA’s full comments, visit www.nbaa.org/lasp.

NBAA ‘Troubled’ by Aviation User Fee References in White House Budget Document

Washington, DC, February 26, 2008 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) issued the following statement with regard to references to aviation user fees in a federal budget planning document issued today by the Office of Management and Budget:

“Although we commend the Obama Administration for its commitment to modernizing the nation’s aviation system and expanding capacity, we are very troubled by the budget outline issued by the White House today, because its appears to leave the door open to consideration of user fees for funding the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). We continue to believe that operational user fees have no place in a funding plan for the FAA, and we will remain unified with the rest of the general aviation community in opposing them in favor of building on the proven, efficient fuel tax for general aviation to help support modernization. We remain committed to modernization, as demonstrated by the industry’s commitment last year, and we look forward to working with the Administration and Congress on effective proposals to expedite modernization.”

Obama Administration urged to change aviation policies

eTravel
Tuesday, 24 February 2009

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) have asked last week to be prioritised by the new Obama Administration, arguing that aviation is a major stimulant for the US economy.

Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO said in a speech last week in New York that “Smart investments – not bailouts – in air transport will pay-off with jobs and boost other industries”

He added that the US air traffic management system was in desperate need of an upgrade and that airlines and airports were operating in gridlock and were unable to be “efficient economic catalysts”.

“I urge the President to allocate the US$4 billion needed to get the ball rolling with the first phase of the long-awaited NextGen project that will create some 77,000 jobs in the US economy”

Policy changes on aviation security, environment and commercial freedoms were also called upon by Bisignani.

He argued that since September 11, 2001 security bills have grown to US$5.9 billion annually and yet there still wasn’t improved efficiency in security processes because there is “little data to support the actions taken”.

“Governments have made minimal progress on recognising each other’s security standards” said Bisignani.

“We need a system that is threat-based, risk-managed and cost-efficient, with mutual recognition of standards. Security principles must be a part of the corporate structure of all industry players. And governments must be accountable to show value for every dollar that is invested”.

In terms of the environment, Bisignani stated that the government needed to “stimulate the economy with green investments such as biofuel research and tax breaks for new aircraft purchases.”

The US government was also criticised for its outdated foreign ownership restrictions which, in Bisignani’s words, is “killing the industry today”.

“Passengers don’t care who owns an airline, so long as it is safe and provides efficient service. Governments should take the same view.”

“I hope that early in President Obama’s term we will be able to change the structure of aviation, not with bailouts, but with commercial freedoms that will generate value for investors and provide a more secure future aviation jobs” said Bisignani.

Dropping plane injures over 30 passengers

e-Travel
Monday, 23 February 2009

A Northwest Airlines plane carrying 408 passengers and 14 crew members dropped suddenly from the sky last Friday injuring over 30 people.

The Boeing 747-400 that had flown in from Manila was waiting to land at Tokyo’s Narita airport and had circled for 30 minutes when it encountered the turbulence, reported The Press Association.

“I was so scared, I thought I would die,” said one passenger. “My whole body was lifted into the air.”

UPI.com reported that the pilot had not told air traffic controllers about the incident or that passengers were injured.

An airline representative told reporters that the crew “did not think it was an emergency situation because only two people were lying on the floor when they realized what happened”.

Annual GA Shipments Down For First Time In Five Years

WASHINGTON, DC, February 17, 2009 – Today, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) announced that 2008 year-end worldwide shipments of general aviation airplanes decreased for the first time in five years.

Speaking at GAMA’s Annual Industry Review and Market Outlook Briefing, GAMA Chairman, Mark Van Tine, president and CEO of Jeppesen, reported that despite a positive year for revenue attributed to order backlog, the industry is feeling a significant impact from the slowing worldwide economy. “Many of GAMA’s member companies have been forced to reduce their work force as they manage backlogs to compensate for the weakness in orders.” Van Tine added, “While our industry is challenged in the current economic climate, we are focused on planning for a stronger future. The world’s economy depends upon a robust air transportation system and general aviation is absolutely a vital component of that global system. Our industry’s continued investment in research and development of new products is unprecedented. We have learned from history that investing smartly in our future and that of our customers’ is the best way to build our way out of tough economic times.”

Industry billings reached $24.8 billion, a 13.4 percent increase over 2007. The positive billings numbers reflect the fulfillment of orders placed for turboprops and business jets during the strong economic years of 2006 and 2007. Conversely, 2008 year-end, worldwide shipments of general aviation airplanes showed a decline with a total of 3,969 units, a 7.1 percent decrease over the previous year’s total of 4,272 airplanes.

The piston airplane segment was down 20.8 percent in 2008, with 2,119 units delivered as compared to 2,675 airplanes in 2007. The turboprop segment experienced the strongest growth in 2008 with shipments up nearly 17 percent. 535 turboprops were shipped, up from 459 units in 2007. Business jet shipments reached a new plateau in 2008 with a total of 1,315 airplanes, up 15.6 percent over the previous year’s figure of 1,138 airplanes.